What to do Today: Catch Kehinde Wiley’s Exhibition While You Can
You only have two weeks to catch Kehinde Wiley’s show at the Stephen Friedman Gallery
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Haven’t had a chance to catch Kehinde Wiley: In Search Of The Miraculous at the Stephen Friedman Gallery yet? Hurry, you have just two weeks left. Our pick for ‘what to do today’, get down to see the internationally renowned American artist’s headline show while you can.
Fishermen Upon a Lee-shore, in Squally Weather (Zakary Antoine and Nelson Noël), 2017 Oil on canvas 180 x 149.7cm (70 7/8 x 59in) | Fishermen Upon a Lee-shore, in Squally Weather (Zakary Antoine), 2017 Oil on canvas 180 x 149.7cm (70 7/8 x 59in) | Fishermen Upon a Lee-shore, in Squally Weather (Andielo Pierre), 2017 Oil on canvas 180 x 149.7cm (70 7/8 x 59in)
In Search Of The Miraculous
Who?
The chances are you’ve heard of Kehinde Wiley, after all, last year it was announced that he was the chosen artist to produce a portrait of Barack Obama, making him the first ever African American to paint the presidential portrait. And while that work is yet to be unveiled (it will be later this year), Wiley’s previous models include Michael Jackson and Ice-T, so he’s no stranger to working with celebrities. Kehinde is best known for his large scale portraits that take black American street-life subjects and depict them in the style of classical European portraiture.
Tempest Off a Mountainous Coast (Patrick Laguerre), 2017 Oil on canvas, 191.4 x 241.4cm, (75 3/8 x 95 1/8in) | The Herring Net (Zakary Antoine and Samedy Pierre Louisson), 2017 Oil on canvas 272.3 x 394cm (107 1/4 x 155 1/8in)
The Fog Warning (Jasmine Gracout), 2017 Oil on canvas 272.3 x 394cm (107 1/4 x 155 1/8in)
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Why?
In his latest show In Search Of The Miraculous, Wiley aims to push his social critique (and process) to new territory. Departing from the singular portrait style he is best-known for, the collection includes classical romanticism and maritime allegorical painting, including a series of seascape paintings with men battling waves at sea. This series sees the artist reinterpreting seascapes by J.M.W. Turner, Winslow Homer and Hieronymus Bosch. Wiley also presents a three-channel artist film to accompany the collection, investigating subjects of ‘migration, madness and isolation in contemporary America’.
How?
Kehinde Wiley: In Search Of The Miraculous is at Stephen Friedman Gallery until 27 January 2018.
All images © Kehinde Wiley. Courtesy of Kehinde Wiley and Stephen Friedman Gallery, London.
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If you often find yourself stuck for ideas of what to do, we’ve come to the rescue with our brand new ‘What To Do Today’ feature. We handpick the best of what’s on in London and the country right now, whether a new restaurant, must-see show, exhibition ending soon or a pop-up that you must, ahem, pop in to. Check back every day for inspiration…
